Search Results (10)

Background/Objectives: Health promotion (HPr) is increasingly recognized as an essential component of modern pharmacy practice. In developing countries like Pakistan, pharmacists’ roles are evolving from traditional dispensing toward extended pharmacy services (EPS). This study evaluated the willingness, knowledge, attitudes, and perceived barriers of pharmacists in Karachi, Pakistan, regarding the provision of HPr-focused EPS. Methods: An online, cross-sectional, observational study was conducted between October 2024 and April 2025, using a 32-item questionnaire. Purposive and snowball sampling were employed to recruit pharmacists, including interns and fresh graduates. Descriptive and inferential statistics (χ², Fisher’s exact and Welch’s t-tests) were used for data analysis. Results: Of N = 389 respondents (mean age 29.8 ± 4.8 years), 85.1% expressed willingness to provide HPr services. A majority of respondents (72.7% and 70.4%, respectively) felt they possessed sufficient knowledge for HPr and for identifying lifestyle-related risks, while more experienced pharmacists (>1 year) reported higher confidence (p < 0.001 and p = 0.043). Positive attitudes toward public health involvement were high (82.3%), particularly among females (p < 0.001), younger pharmacists and fresh graduates (p = 0.019 and p = 0.010). However, only 39.1% believed they had sufficient time for patient education. Practicing pharmacists (n = 114) were most frequently involved in dietary advice (4.38 ± 0.89) and medication safety education (4.36 ± 0.97), while family planning counseling (2.92 ± 1.36) was the least commonly reported activity. Leading barriers identified via word cloud analysis included lack of time (n = 101), perceived lack of necessary skills (n = 96), insufficient resources (n = 91), limited technology access (n = 89), and lack of specific protocols (n = 84). Conclusions: Pakistani pharmacists demonstrate high professional willingness to engage in HPr-focused EPS. However, systemic barriers—primarily time constraints and a lack of supportive infrastructure—impede the full integration of these services into routine practice. Policy interventions, standardized protocols, and reimbursement models are necessary to leverage pharmacists’ potential in primary healthcare. Full article

Owner-led self-medication for companion animals is a growing global practice; however, empirical data from Japan remain limited. Framing medication safety within a One Health perspective, this study aimed to characterize Japanese pet owners’ use of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and identify possibilities for pharmacists to support rational self-medication. A cross-sectional 13-item online survey was administered to 500 owners in Japan between 30 May and 2 June 2025. Data on owner demographics, willingness to consult pharmacists, veterinary visit behavior, and OTC purchasing practices were summarized. Many owners were receptive to pharmacy support; 65% wished to consult a pharmacist, and 6.8% had already done so. Overall, 15.2% reported using OTCs drugs, primarily for treatment or prevention and prioritized perceived effectiveness and safety when selecting products. Some owners managed mild pet illnesses at home, citing perceived mildness and cost as reasons for not visiting a veterinary clinic. There is an unmet demand for accessible expert counseling at the point of purchase. Leveraging community pharmacies linked with pet specialty pharmacies as first-contact hubs could promote appropriate self-medication; doing so would require veterinary-specific training, establishing a formal credential for veterinary pharmacists, and defining pharmacist–veterinarian communication to ensure safe and effective use. Full article

Medication abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol is a safe and effective method for ending a pregnancy. Pharmacy dispensing of mifepristone was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2023, but educational opportunities for pharmacists were nonexistent. We designed a 1 h continuing education course on medication abortion for pharmacists, which was offered in a live-webinar or recorded-video format over 3 years. It included key medication abortion topics, including medications, patient counseling, relevant policies, and implementing pharmacy dispensing. Using a prepost design, we administered online surveys to participants prior to and after completing the course to assess changes in overall medication abortion knowledge score (six items, Cronbach’s alpha = 0.76) and support for pharmacist dispensing of medication abortion (one Likert-scaled item). During the study period, 279 students and pharmacists took the course, of which 148 completed both the pre- and post-course questionnaires. Adjusted regression analyses demonstrated significant increases in knowledge scores and support for pharmacist dispensing of medication abortion post-course; most thought dispensing mifepristone would be very (21.6%) or somewhat easy (38.5%) to implement, and 75% indicated a willingness to dispense mifepristone if allowed. These findings suggest that video-based education on medication abortion is an effective tool for enhancing pharmacists’ knowledge and support for medication abortion, which could increase access to reproductive health care. Full article

Background: Mental health issues among medical students have gained increasing attention globally, with studies indicating a high prevalence of psychological disorders within this population. The use of antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications has become a common response to these mental health challenges. However, it is crucial to understand the extent of their usage and associated effects on students’ mental health and academic performance. This cross-sectional study explored the use of antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs and their impact on the mental health of medical students in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 561 medical students from 34 universities was conducted between March and July 2024. An anonymous online questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic, mental health, and medication usage-related information. Results: Most of the participants were female (71.5%) and aged 21–25 years (62.7%). Approximately 23.8% of them used antidepressants, 5.6% reported using anti-anxiety medications, and 14.0% used both types of medication. Among the medication users, 71.7% were using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and 28.3% were using other medications. Adverse drug reactions were reported by 58.8% of the participants, and 39.6% changed drugs with inadequate efficacy. Notably, 49.0% of the respondents who have ever used medications discontinued their medication without consulting a healthcare professional. Despite these challenges, 62.0% of the participants felt that their medications had a positive impact on their academic performance, 73.4% believed that the benefits outweighed the drawbacks, and 76.2% expressed a willingness to continue taking their medication. In particular, 77.6% agreed that treatment with these drugs could prevent mental breakdowns. Sleep duration, physical activity, and family history of psychiatric disorders were significantly associated with medication use, with p values of 0.002, 0.014, and 0.042, respectively. Conclusions: These results shed light on the need to understand the prescribing practices of antidepressant and anti-anxiety drugs among medical students while promoting the appropriate use of these medications among the students. There is a need to incorporate mental health interventions into counseling services and awareness programs to support students. Future longitudinal studies are needed to explore long-term trends. Full article

Background/Objectives: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) can explain how genetics influence morbidity and mortality in children. However, it is unclear whether health providers will perceive and use such treatments. We conducted a discrete choice experiment (DCE) to understand Italian health professionals’ preferences for NGS to improve the diagnosis of paediatric genetic diseases. Methods: The DCE was administered online to 125 health professionals in Italy. We documented attributes influencing professionals’ decisions of NGS, including higher diagnostic yield, shorter counselling periods, cost, turnaround time, and the identification of fewer variants of unknown significance. Results: Results show that factors such as higher diagnostic yield, shorter counselling periods, lower costs, and faster turnaround times positively influenced the adoption of NGS tests. Willingness to pay (WTP) estimates varied from EUR 387 (95% CI, 271.8–502.9) for 7% increase in the diagnostic yield to EUR 469 (95% CI, 287.2–744.9) for a decrease of one week in the turnaround time. Responders would reduce diagnostic yield by 7% to decrease the turnaround time by one week in both the preference and the willingness to trade (WTT) spaces. Respondents prioritised diagnostic yield (RI = 50.36%; 95% CI 40.2–67.2%) compared to other attributes. Conclusions: therefore, health professionals value NGS for allowing earlier, more accurate genetic diagnoses. Full article

This study aimed to explore patients’ perspectives on the adoption of a prehabilitation multimodal online program. Patients recovering from gastrointestinal cancer surgery at a tertiary hospital between October 2021 and November 2022 were invited to participate. An e-Health program including intensity exercises, nutrition and psychological counselling was used. Patients were instructed to navigate the e-Health program over 24 h using an iPad and then complete the study survey. Patients’ characteristics, use of technology, views and minimal expected outcomes from a preoperative online program were collected. Of the 30 patients included, most were female, most reported confidence in the use of technology, most considered the online program safe and most agreed it would be beneficial for their health. “Poor preoperative health” and “lack of motivation and encouragement” were identified as the main barriers to the uptake of a preoperative online program, while program ‘simplicity’ and perceived ‘benefits’ were the main facilitators. Significant improvement in postoperative outcomes is perceived to influence patients’ willingness to participate in a preoperative multimodal e-Health program. Gastrointestinal cancer patients perceived the adoption of a preoperative multimodal e-Health application as safe to be performed at home and of potential benefit to their health. A range of patient’s characteristics, barriers and facilitators to the uptake of an online program were identified. These should be considered in future preoperative multimodal online programs to enhance patient experience, adherence and efficacy. The safety and efficacy of the online prehabilitation program will need to be determined in a larger randomized controlled trial. Full article

Background: The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a global health crisis that has affected the psychological well-being of individuals across the world. The persistence of the pandemic and measures to curtail it have tested people’s ability to cope successfully and bounce back from the pandemic, otherwise referred to as resilience. The present study examined resilience levels among residents of Fort McMurray and identified the demographic, clinical and social factors associated with resilience. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional survey design and collected data from 186 participants using online questionnaires. The survey included questions assessing sociodemographic information, mental health history and COVID-19-related variables. The main study outcome was resilience measured using the six-item Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). The data from the survey were analyzed using chi-squared tests and binary logistic regression analyses in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 25. Results: The results showed that seven independent variables (age, history of depression, history of anxiety, willingness to receive mental health counselling, support from the government of Alberta and support from employer) were statistically significant within the context of the logistic regression model. A history of an anxiety disorder was demonstrated to best predict low resilience. Participants who had a history of anxiety disorder were five times more likely to show low resilience compared to those without such a history. Participants with a history of depression showed a three-fold likelihood of having low resilience in comparison to those who did not have a history of depression. Individuals who expressed a desire to receive mental health counselling had a four-times likelihood of having low resilience than those who did not express a desire to receive mental health counselling. The results also showed that younger participants were more prone to low resilience compared to older participants. Receiving support from the government and one’s employer is a protective factor. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of examining resilience and its associated factors during a pandemic such as COVID-19. The results demonstrated that a history of anxiety disorder, depression and being younger were important predictors of low resilience. Responders who reported the desire to receive mental health counselling also reported expressing low resilience. These findings could be used to design and implement interventions aimed at improving the resilience of individuals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Full article

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, traditional face-to-face counseling has gradually given way to online counseling. To improve the application value of online counseling and change the current situation of college students’ lack of willingness to receive online counseling, this study explored factors that influence Chinese college students’ willingness to receive online counseling (WROC). Based on data gathered from surveying 823 Chinese college students using self-report questionnaires, we clarified the relationships between the self-stigma of seeking help, ethical concerns about online counseling (ECOC), online interpersonal trust (OIT), and the willingness to receive online counseling (WROC). The results indicated that (1) self-stigma of seeking help and OIT negatively and positively predicted the WROC, respectively; (2) ethical concerns negatively predicted the WROC; and (3) ethical concerns mediated the relationship between self-stigma and WROC and between OIT and WROC. The results suggest that reducing the self-stigma surrounding help-seeking, perfecting the ethical norms of online counseling, and enhancing interpersonal trust can improve willingness to receive online counseling. Full article

Background: Over 90,000 residents had to be evacuated from Fort McMurray (FMM), Alberta, Canada due to the wildfire that engulfed the city in May 2016. Overall, about 2400 homes or 10% of the housing stock in Fort McMurray were destroyed. The fire consumed about 200,000 hectors of forest, reaching into Saskatchewan. During major disasters, communities’ infrastructure is disrupted, and psychological, economic, and environmental effects are felt for years afterwards. Objective: Five years after the wildfire disaster, this study assessed the prevalence rate of major depressive disorder (MDD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Fort McMurray residents and determined the demographic, clinical, and other risk factors of probable MDD and PTSD. Methodology: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect data through an online questionnaire administered via REDCap between 24 April and 2 June 2021. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to assess the presence of MDD symptoms in respondents. The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-C) was used to assess likely PTSD in respondents. Descriptive, univariate, and multivariate regression analyses were employed. Results: 186 out of 249 individuals who accessed the survey link completed it (74.7% response rate). The median age of the subscribers was 42. The sample included a majority of 159 (85.5%) females; 98 (52.7%) > 40 years of age; 175 (94.1%) employed; and 132 (71%) in a relationship. The overall prevalence of MDD symptoms in our study sample was 45.0% (76). Four variables independently predicted MDD symptoms in the multivariate logistic regression model, including: unemployed (OR = 12.39; 95% CI: 1.21–126.37), have received a mental diagnosis of MDD (OR = 4.50; 95% CI: 1.57−12.92), taking sedative-hypnotics (OR = 5.27; 95% CI: 1.01−27.39), and willingness to receive mental health counseling (OR = 4.90; 95% CI: 1.95–12.31). The prevalence of likely PTSD among our respondents was 39.6% (65). Three independent variables: received a mental health depression diagnosis from a health professional (OR = 4.49; 95% CI: 1.40–14.44), would like to receive mental health counseling (OR = 4.36, 95% CI: 1.54–12.34), and have only limited or no support from family (OR = 11.01, 95% CI: 1.92–63.20) contributed significantly to the model for predicting likely PTSD among respondents while controlling the other factors in the regression model. Conclusions: According to this study, unemployment, taking sleeping pills, having a prior depression diagnosis, and the willingness to receive mental health counseling significantly increase the odds of having MDD and PTSD following wildfires. Family support may protect against the development of these conditions. Full article

With the impetus of information communication technology (ICT), emerging eHealth has attracted increasing number of doctors’ participation in online health platforms, which provide various potential benefits to doctors. However, previous studies on eHealth have seldom distinguished different service modes provided by doctors. In addition, the bulk of the literature has considered doctors’ motivations based solely on online environments. To fill this gap, this study combines expectancy theory and the Bagozzi, Dholakia, and Basuroy (BDB) model to examine the relationships between anticipated outcomes, performance expectations, and effort intentions from online and offline perspectives. Doctors’ behavioral intentions are further divided into two categories: the willingness to offer free services and paid services. Using SmartPLS, this study conducts structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze 311 sample data. The results show that extrinsic motivations (i.e., extrinsic rewards, expected relationships, and image) and intrinsic motivation (i.e., a sense of self-worth) significantly influence the desire to serve patients well, which in turn positively affects the willingness to offer free services and the willingness to offer paid services. Moreover, counseling time is confirmed as the main cost, which negatively moderates the relationships between desire and behavioral intentions. The findings provide theoretical insights for eHealth and provide practical suggestions to develop marketing strategies for online health platform providers. Full article